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Knitlandia: A Book and A Giveaway

Fri 26 Feb 2016 02:02pm

I’ve been looking forward to the release of Clara Parkes new book Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees The World. I’m a big fan of both travel and knitting, so two of my favorite things all in one darling book. The cover is so cute, I’m dying to read it in public, better yet read it and knit in public. And in this case, read it and knit in public while emitting knowing guffaws, chuckles and full on coffee-out-the-nose bursts of laughter. Such a good storyteller is our Clara.

I was especially anticipating Clara’s descriptions of her Icelandic adventure because I love Iceland, been there a bunch of times, and several years ago Gudrun Johnston and I took part in a similar trip also hosted by the inimitable fireball Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir. Clara nails it -she gets it absolutely perfect, the strange, not strangeness of Iceland.

Knitlandia is the best sort of travelogue, Clara makes you feel like you’re right there with her – the sights, sounds and smells of the place. Having cappuccino at a cafe that provides nail polish too, visiting the Lopi factory, shopping for yarn in the supermarket, riding Icelandic horses, told with lots of informative background information slipped in, all spoken with her comfortable entertaining voice which makes you feel like she’s your best friend, and she’s only telling these stories to you.

My favorite part was the sheep round-up and dinner afterwards – but you’ll just have to get the book!

One great thing about Iceland from a knitter’s point of view, that Clara noticed, is the prevalence of Lopapeysas – the typical Icelandic sweaters – which are everywhere. Here’s a slideshow of some I snapped during that 2012 trip to Iceland…they are the glimmering inspiration that sparked my Stopover sweater!

The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian entries only. (I’m so sorry all of you in the rest of the world! Not my choice) The giveaway closes Sunday March 6th at midnight (EST) and I will announce the randomly chosen winner on Monday March 8th. The winner will contact me and I’ll forward your information to ABRAMS Books.

Give it a go! Write a novel…because WE LOVE ICELAND and WE LOVE CLARA!

Aah Iceland — a place I’ve long wanted to visit, not just since I began knitting. A roommate’s mom once had the largest flock of Icelandic sheep in the USA and it was with those fibers that I first started wet felting. Someday, someday! Also eager to read this book!

I had the privilege to visit Iceland on a layover about 20 years ago. The visit was really short and I only had time to walk around Reykjavik alone. I have always wanted to return to experience more of Iceland. It is simply a stunning place with so much beauty and amazing culture. (completely formed my volcanos)

I’ve taken a couple classes with Ragga and enjoyed how she included Icelandic culture in her lessons. As for Iceland, I love the idea of being in a place where most people knit and/or value handknits, where even grocery stores sell beautiful Lopi yarns, where bathing in hot springs is a part of normal social life, where there is a large creative community, and where there are happy sheep. Sounds like paradise!

I knit my first Icelandic sweater for my husband back when we lived aboard a 31’sailboat in N. Europe. I long to see Iceland someday soon, as I love their history and culture of wool as well as the amazing geology (I have a lax degree in geology but a forever love of volcanoes).

I made a non-lopapeysa sweater from Icelandic wool for my then-boyfriend back in the early 1970s. Ten years later I made another, onon-lopapeysa cardigan for myself. Someday I may make a lopapeysa using the dozen or so skeins of Icelandic wool I bought back then.

I’m just finishing a Lettlopi Stopover and it is my 9th Icelandic sweater – knit over a period of 35 years, starting when I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland and found Icelandic wool so reasonably priced. I’d love to read the stories in Clara’s book!

In 1978 I knit an Icelandic sweater for my mother (Reynolds Vol 78 –New Icelandic Fashions for Men and Women, still in my collection), and that was the sweater that convinced me to chuck college, go to Iceland and devote myself to knitting. Never actually made it to Iceland but have managed the yarnish part of the dream and for that I am forever grateful.

Just the whole feel of being there. It’s been 9 years since I’ve been, but I can just feel it again when I think of it. I am hoping to go this summer again for a family reunion with all my extended Icelandic family and I can’t wait. ❤️

I’ve been to Iceland once, and there are so many things I love about it. Of course, the Lopi factory, and all the woolens. I loved the stark landscape and all of the steaming, bubbling water that comes from the earth. So primal. And they harness that energy too!

My understanding of Iceland has changed so much since I’ve been part of the knitting community. I don’t know when I’ll have time or money to visit and set right the misconceptions of youth, but perhaps a copy of Knitlandia would be next best!!

I’ve yet to go to Iceland – it’s on the tip top of my list though! I love the sprawling landscapes, it looks so beautiful. I watched a documentary about a girl who solo trekked across Iceland and it just awoke such a desire to wander in me…. And obviously there is the whole fiber thing 😉

I honestly don’t know much about Iceland but it is a place on my bucket list. Why?

It has unique geo-thermic features. In my former life I volunteered at Yellowstone. Iceland has some similar areas. I forgot about that until I recently started knitting again. I love the yarn that comes from there.

I would absolutely love to go to Iceland. On my list of dream vacations. Have been watching Stephen West’s videos while he was there and loved the scenery and looked liked such a fun place to go. But best of all the yarn and the sweaters!

I would love to go to Iceland! It sounds like such a visually interesting place with the volcanic action and landscape. The of course there is the knitting and sweaters and sheep. Couple that with the fact that they are readers and publish more books per capita than any other country. A great place I think.

So far I haven’t travel beyond the the airport in Reykjavik – it is our favorite stopover on our way from California to London. Just breathing the wool fumes in the airport shop and fondling the sweaters makes me want to stay for longer than a few hours. One day…soon!

I had a brief stopover in Iceland a few years ago and was able to see the landscape from the window of the plane. It was beautiful and definitely on my bucket list to visit some day. The thought of buying the beautiful wool in a grocery store is totally exciting and fun.

I actually went to Iceland oh probably 30 yrs ago. It was a layover of 24+ hours. We did quick tour. I love love their knits and the mittens I brought home then I still have. Such a beautiful place to visit.

The first sweater I ever made was a lopapeysa although in those days (1981?) I had never heard the name. I also landed in Reykjavik in the middle of the night flying to France on Icelandair for a semester there in January 1980. I remember getting off the plane and having no idea where I was. If only I had had the time/money/inspiration to explore a little more! I would love to go back for the people, the sweaters, and the beautiful land.

Oh my, the sweaters, yarn,sheep,respect for the land, the landscape…There would be no way I could pick just one thing that attracts me to Iceland. I dream of going to a knitting workshop in Iceland some day.

Funny, two of my sisters and I just finished a Nancy Drew video game which was set in Iceland. One character wore a pullover Lopapeysa; the souvenir shop had three kinds of Lopapeysas; another character wore a zippered Lopapeysa, knitted hat, and stranded mittens; it was awesome! lol

I’ve never tried Lopi yarn, but I’ve always wanted to. Kate Davies has a beautiful yoked sweater design, Asta Solilja, that is knit in it.
I guess what I like most about Iceland is the atmosphere that the name evokes. It always makes me think of rugged mountains, lots of snow and ice (obviously), stuff like that 🙂

I’ve got such respect for the way Iceland seems to really value its traditional culture and crafts, the work put into protecting the old breeds of animals.. It seems like the people really put an effort into everything, even weight lifting I hear! Definitely somewhere I’d love to visit someday. Thanks!

When I was in college I opted to study one semester in Edinburgh, Scotland. My flight from NY to Edinburgh stopped in Reykjavik. On my stop over, I went into a small airport store and bought a beautiful cream colored Lopapeysa with light and dark brown colors in the yoke. I had no idea what I was buying. I didn’t knit or appreciate the work that went into this marvelous piece of outerwear. I just thought it was pretty and it looked warm, so I reluctantly paid $20 (it was 1981 and I was a poor college student). Soon I came to realize what an amazing deal I had stumbled upon. I wore that sweater on my winter walks to and from the University of Edinburgh-2 miles from my boarding house. On my return trip to the US, my flight stopped again in Reykjavik. As fate would have it, the pilot announced that the plane was grounded and we would “have” to stay in Iceland overnight.It was a dream come true for me! I enjoyed seeing the treeless countryside, thermal heated swimming pools and art galleries. Unfortunately, someone stole my treasured sweater when I got back to the US but I had such fond memories of it, I think it may have been what inspired me to learn to knit in the first place 8 years ago. I’ve always wanted to replace that sweater. I am now planning a return trip to Iceland. This time I will visit a mill, buy some yarn, and am planning to knit a cream and brown lopapeysa sweater in memory of the one I had back in college!

On my yarn swaps around the world, I had an Icelandic partner, she sent me some of the legendary yarns from her country, they hold so much tradition and charm. Lopi holds a very special place in my stash.

I admire the way Iceland reacted to the financial crisis, relying on tourism and their wonderful sheep and yarn. I have used their yarn often over the years and love knitting with the natural shades in particular, smelling the yarn and feeling the lanolin as I knit. What a treasure!